Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Corresponding Author:
Rabia Hussain
Behavioral Sciences Department,
Karakoram International University, Gilgit
rabia.hussain@kiu.edu.pk
Abstract: Postpartum, a critical period for both mother and new born baby, entirely changes the life of a woman. This study
aims to understand the perception of postpartum, the postpartum practices and rituals in Altit Hunza community, the
nutritional regime for the mother and her new born baby, the cultural and health barriers faced by the women during the
postpartum period, and to understand their knowledge related to biomedical health care system. Ethnographical and
descriptive study was carried out through focus group discussion, interviews and observations. Findings revealed that
cultural beliefs strengthen postpartum practices of these women and newborn babies but sometimes these may increase
the risk of various problems related to newborn baby. Women who observe cultural traditions and have strong gendered
kin support express less symptoms of postpartum depression, easily restore their bodily energy and experience healthy life
with their new born babies. In addition, experienced women and dais (traditional midwives) have indigenous knowledge
and facilitate women in nutrition and utilization of herbs in prenatal and postnatal care. The effective postpartum practices
and rituals based on the specific cultural perspective usually minimize the devastating effects of postpartum in Hunzai
women. Further anthropological studies are suggested at the community level.
Key Words: Cultural, Dais, Ethnographical, Hunza, mother, midwives, postpartum, postpartum practices,
postpartum rituals
INTRODUCTION
factors contribute to the development of PPD in
A postpartum period (or postnatal period) is the
Pakistan, including environmental, cultural and social
period beginning immediately after the birth of a
factors. Cultural and traditional postpartum practices,
child and extending for about six weeks. Both mother
values and beliefs play an important role in the
and new born baby entails postpartum care that is
medical attention-seeking behavior of postpartum
the care of mother and new born baby after delivery
mothers as well as in newborn babies during the
till 40 or 42 days. World Health Organization describe
postnatal periods traditional and cultural practices
postpartum period as the most critical and yet the
followed which affect the newborn (Reshma 2014).
most neglected phase in the lives of mothers and
Postpartum practices begin immediately after a
babies; most deaths occur during the postnatal
woman gives birth to a new born baby. These
period (WHO, 2014). The woman facing first time of
practices have been in existence in all parts of the
postpartum period, entirely changes her life like
world. Similarly, placental rituals and other birth-by
emotional, physical, psychological, social and
rituals are common in various societies. These rituals
economical. Effective postpartum care is essential to
often include culturally determined behavioral
maximize survival of mothers and new born
sequences which operate as anxiety-releasing
regardless of where woman delivers (Sunanda & Paul
mechanisms and they serve to offer a spiritual means
2013). Sometimes this postpartum period has
of control over the future health and welfare of
devastating effects on mothers, infants and families
mother, child, and even the community (Bogaret &
in the form of postpartum depression. Postpartum
Ogunbanjo 2008). Much of the woman's behavior
depression (PPD) is common among women in
during the postpartum period is strongly influenced
Pakistan, with a prevalence rate ranging from 28
by her cultural background. There are many such
percent to 63 percent, placing it among the highest in
practices, rituals, beliefs and offerings which either
Asia (Gulamani, Shaikh, & Chagani 2013). Several
464
465
466
467
REFERENCES
Abuidhail, J
2014 Rural Jordanian Mothers Beliefs,
Knowledge and Practices of Postnatal Care.
Quality in Primary Care , 285, 291.
Arnold, D
1993 Colononizing the body. State medicine
and epidemic disease in nineteenth century
India, Berkeley
Bogaret, K. V & Ogunbanjo G. A.
2008. Post-partum Rituals : Ethics and the
law. 1.
Chawla
1994 Child-bearing and culture. Women
centered revisioning of the traditional
midwife. The dai as a ritual practitioner, New
Delhi
Chen WL
2010 Understanding the cultural context of
Chinese
mothers'
perceptions
of
breastfeeding and infant health in Canada. J
Clin Nurs,19 (78):10211029.
Choudhry K, Wallace LM
2012 Breast is not always best: South Asian
women's experiences of infant feeding in the
UK within an acculturation framework.
Matern Child Nutr,8(1):7287.
Condon L, Ingram J, Hamid N, Hussein A
2003 Cultural influences on breastfeeding
and weaning. Community Pract, 76(9):344
349
Dennis CL, Fung K, Grigoriadis S, Robinson GE,
Romans S, Ross L
2007 Traditional postpartum practices and
rituals:
A
qualitative
systematic
review.Womens Health,3 (4):487502.
Ejikeme, J. N.U, Ukaegbu, M. O
2013 Traditional postpartum and baby care
practice in Edem-Ani. Tourism and heritage
studies, 79.
Jamaludin, S. S.
2011 Beliefs and practices surrounding
postpartum period among Malay women.
proceeding of social science , 409.
Jeffery & Jeffery, P. M.
1993 Traditional birth attendants in rural
North India. The social organization of childbearing, in S. Lindenbaugh and M. Lock (eds.),
Knowledge, power, and practice. The
anthropology of medicine in everyday life,
Berkeley and London 7-31
Khaddure.R, Marsh.D.R, Nazir.R.
2008 Household knowledge and paractices of
newborn. Preinatology, 144.
Groleau D, Soulire M, Kirmayer LJ
2006 Breastfeeding and the cultural
configuration of social space among
Vietnamese immigrant woman. Health
Place,12(4):516526
Gulamani, S. S., Shaikh, K., & Chagani, J.
2013 Postpartum depression in Pakistan: a
neglected issue. Nursing for Womens Health,
17(2):147-52.
Ingram J, Johnson D, Hamid N
2003 South Asian grandmothers influence on
breast feeding in Bristol. Midwifery,
19(4):318327.
Pigg, S.
1995 Acronyms and effacement. Traditional
medical practitioners (TMP) in international
health development. Social Science and
Medicine, 41:1, 47-68
Qureshi R, Pacquiao DF
2013 Ethnographic study of experiences of
Pakistani women immigrants with pregnancy,
birthing, and postpartum care in the United
States and Pakistan. Journal of Transcultural
Nursing, 24 (4):355-62.
Raven, J. H, Chen, Q, Tolhurst, R. J. & Garner, P
2007 Traditional beliefs and practices in
postpartum period Fujian. Pragance and Child
Birth, 10,11
468
Reshma,Sujatha R.
2014 Cultural practices and beliefs on new
born care among mothers. health science , 6.
Rice PL, Naksook C
2001 Breast-feeding practices among Thai
women in Australia. Midwifery, 17(1):1123.
Rossiter JC, Yam BMC
2000 Breastfeeding: How Could it be
Enhanced? The Perceptions of Vietnamese
Women in Sydney, Australia. Journal of
Midwifery Womens Health, 45(3):271276
Rozario, S.
1998 The dai and the doctor. Discourses on
womens reproductive health in rural
Bangladesh, in K. Ram and M. Jolly (eds.),
Maternities and modernities. Colonial and
postcolonial experiences in Asia and the
Pacific. Cambridge, 144-176
Schlickau J, Wilson M
2005 Development and testing of a prenatal
breastfeeding education intervention for
Hispanic women. J Perinat Educ, 14(4):2435
Sunanda B, Shynee Paul
2013 The cultural practices of posnatal
mothers in selected hospital at M angalore.
Health Science, 48.
Walsh, L. V. & Antonio, J.
2006 Belief and rituals in traditional birth
attandent practices in Guatemala.
Transcultural Nusrsing, 248.
World Health Organization
2014 WHO recommendations on postnatal
care of the mother and newborn. WHO.
Retrieved 22 December 2014
Publication Date: Dec-31 -2015
2015The Explorer Islamabad Journal of Social Sciences-Pakistan
469